Ross Martin was quietly strumming away on his guitar in the sleepy West Highland village of Arisaig until a random series of individual events in 1998 saw like-minded musicians from California, Cape Breton and Ireland descend upon his local music scene like the three wisemen. Daimh was born that day and the rest is history.

Now back in Arisaig after a six-year hiatus in Edinburgh during the early 2000s (when that was the place to be for any young session musician), Ross has built a world-wide reputation in the field of accompanying Gaelic song and Bagpipes and as an innovator in DADGAD tuning.

Having previously chalked up recording and touring credits with artists such as Julie Fowlis, Bonnie Prince Billy, Muireann Nic Aomhlaoibh, Karan Casey, Finlay MacDonald and the inimitable Vallely brothers from Armagh, Ross continues to find enough time out from Daimh’s busy schedule to maintain several current projects: namely with regular trips to France to perform with Double Double, performances with ex-Daimh vocalist Calum Alex MacMillan and a duo with his wife, the one and only Eilidh Shaw.

Time at home is spent heavily involved in teaching the joys of Traditional Scottish music to young people in the area through the Feisean movement and volunteering with the local Coastguard Search and Rescue team.

“Cool! Is that a new guitar?” Zippy, Record Producer

Interesting Fact:
Met Slash

Hobbies:
Hiding, cooking, stunts, card tricks and foraging for mushrooms and shellfish

Scottish Islands gigged on:
28